Brault Stout, Bullpen Not, As Brew Crew Sweeps Series 5-2

Chase Anderson worked a clean opening frame, and ditto for Steven Brault, who filled up the strike zone and picked up a couple of K. Gregory walked with two away in the second, and it paid off when JHK cranked the next pitch, a heater down the middle, into the crowd. It was a "no doubt about it" shot, travelling 457' to dead center. After two were gone, Steven walked a pair on nine pitches *old dog new tricks woof * then struck out the next guy on three pitches; go figure. The Bucs got back-to-back two-out knocks in the third from Bryan Reynolds and Starling, but J-Bell couldn't lay off a two-strike change. The third out has been hard to come by so far; Brault gave up a single after two were retired, again with no damage. Pittsburgh went in order in the fourth, and Milwaukee got the obligatory two-out rap. Still, through four, Steven is at 52 pitches, a very good count. No Bucco noise was made in the fifth, nor were any peeps heard from the Brew Crew.

Good start but no cigar for Steven - 2018 Topps Heritage

Starling singled and stole second in the sixth for the Pirates action; Ryan Braun's sliding snag of a Redbeard sinker saved a run. Christian Yelich got the Brewers on the board with his 24th dinger; a following single was erased via a DP to limit the damage. Adrian Houser gave up a two-out walk in the seventh, but Clint let Steven bat and he fanned. Milwaukee opened with an infield knock, and an out later, Steven issued a four-pitch walk. Ric Rod was waved in, and a single tied it. A walk loaded the sacks, but RR stemmed the bleeding at that point. Jeremy Jeffress worked the eighth and Reynold's single was all the Bucs could manage. Frankie answered the bell and walked the first guy he saw. And hey, it rains on the plains in Spain and Mike Moustakas hits homers off Pittsburgh; he rocketed his fifth in six games against the Pirates, this one off Liriano, and that should about do it. After a couple of more raps, Geoff Hartlieb got the call. A sac fly chased home another Brewer. Josh Hader took the ball in the ninth and gave up a walk followed by three whiffs. Say goodnight, Gracie.

So Kyle Crick has been on ice (see notes) since Tuesday and the Pirates decided to go with a six-man bullpen against the Brewers (who lead the NL in homers) in response. Can't help but to think that if you open the dictionary to "dysfunctional," the entire Pirates FO will be in the picture.

Notes:

• Bryan Reynolds and Starling each had two hits; the rest of the club had one (JHK).
• Steven Brault's 6-1/3 IP stint is the longest outing of his career. He's gone six frames three times - once in 2016, once in 2017, and once in 2018.
• Why start Steven  and call on Ric Rod in the seventh? According to Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic, Kyle Crick is battling through an unannounced injury. It should be noted that he was warming up in the pen; maybe he's just not ready yet or Clint had one of his gut feelings.
• The Brewers drew over 115,000 for the three-game set.
• Richard Justice of MLB.com ID's seven relievers who could be moved and includes The Nightmare. Justice is quick to note that it would require an elite package to get Vazquez while some other guys are available relatively on the cheap.